Improvement in car-couplings



2 Sheets-'-Sheet 1.- W. H. MAPLE.

Cary-Coupling. 1 No. 211,415. Pa'1en1ed 1an. 14,1879. A

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.2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

W. MAPLE` Car-Coupling. N0'. 211,4115. Patented '1an'. 14, 1879.

ATTORNEYS.'

N. PETERS, PH0T0 LJTIIOGRAPMEFI. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

WILLIAM H. MAPLE, OF O-HARITON, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,415, dated January14, 1879 5 application iiled October 15, 1878.

To all' whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY MA- PLE, of 4Chariton, in the countyof Lucas and State of Iowa, lhave invented a new and ImprovedCar-Couplin g; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which-Figure lis a side elevation of the coupling devices, partly in section;Fig. 2, a plan view. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of theconnection between the rock-shaft and coupling devices. Fig. 4 is avertical cross-section of the draw-head.

My invention relates to certain improvementsin car-coupling in which thecars are connected by hooks working vertically upon a horizontal pivot,and in which the coupling device is operated by a horizontal andtransverse rock-shaft extending to each side of the top of the car.

My improvements consist, mainly, in thev improved construction andarrangement of the rock-shaft and its connected mechanism for operatingthe hooks; in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the hooks;and in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the draw-bar, ashereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing, A A represent two cars arranged adjacent to each other,and provided with my improved coupling devices. One of these cars, A, isa at or platform car, while the other is an elevated or box car, the twoforms being here illustrated to show the applicability of my devices toeach.

B is the draw-bar, the shank of which extends beneath the car-frame, andis attached thereto by suitable draftconnections. The front end of thisdraw-bar is extended up above the level of the shank, and forms anabutment against the dead wood of the car, which, when the cars cometogether, relieves the draft-connection of the draw-bar of all strain.The front end or draw-head ot' the draw-bar is constructed with an openupper surface, a central tongue, a, side walls b b, and a bottom withtwo holes through it, one on each side of the centra-1 tongue, justbelow the hook-chambers. Transversely through the sides b and thecentral tongue a is arranged the horizontal bolt c, which forms the axisfor the hooks. (l are the hooks, each of which is in the nature` of alever, and is pivoted to the same bolt c, which constitutes the hold forthe free end of the opposite hook.

1n connecting these hooks to their axial bolt they are formed with anenlargement, d, through which extends a hole made tapering or haringupon each side, so as to form a circular bearing for the hook in ahorizontal plane, which permits the hook to move freely from side toside without canting upward.

To the upper edge of the hooks G are attached the lower ends of thelinks e, which, in turn, are pivoted loosely to the ends of the armsf,rigidly attached to the short sleeves g, encompassing the transverserock-shafts D. The said sleeves g are loosely arranged upon therock-shafts D, but are coupled to the same by lugs h formed upon thesleeves and pins i attached to the rockshaft. Upon the outer ends of therock-shafts D are formed cranks, with weighted balls j, which both serveas handles for turning the rock-shafts and hold the shafts with theattached devices in the desired position.

Now, in coupling the cars it will be seen that the pin of the shaft Drests beneath the lug h of the sleeve g, and the weight of the balls onthe end ofthe said shaft D holds the hook in an elevated position readyfor coupling, as shown in the right-hand part of Fig. 1, the lower endof the hook resting against the continuous front edge of the draw-bar,which operates as a stop. When the cars come together the rock-shaft isturned nearly a complete revolution, in which position, as shown in theleft-hand part of Figs. 1 and 2, the pin li rests upon the top of thelug h, and the weight of the balls serves to hold the hooks down uponthe coupling-bolt against accidental disengagement. The rock-shaft D isarranged in bearings attached to the car-frame, and extends from side toside of the car, so as to permit the cars to be coupled or uncoupledfrom either side.

When box-cars are employed a bevel-pinion, 7c, is fixed upon therock-shaft D, and a vertical rod, E, is provided with a second bevel-vpinion, la', meshing with the first, and extends to the top ofthe car,where it is provided with a hand-wheel. When the hooks are pressedagainst the side of the draw-head said hooks may have a tendency tobecome disengaged, especially when passing over rough roads; and toobviate this result the hooks are provided upon the side with recessesl, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) which, when the hooks are pressed against thesides of the draw-bar, fit over projections or lugs l', formed upon theside of the drawhead, and prevent the disengagement of the hooks when inthis position, still allowing them to be uncoupled.

With respect to the pivotal connection of the hooks, I would state thatI am aware that a car-coupling hook has heretofore been provided witha-double tapering bearing, made largest at the outer side. I thereforeonly claim such hook when it is provided with an enlargement, d, toreceive said bearing, which gives a larger and more lastingwearing-surface without materially adding to the weight or clumsiness ofthe hook, and which better serves to hold the hook in its true position.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure Y by Letters Patent, is-

l. The hooks G, having au enlargement, d, with circular slotted bearing,as described.

2. The combination of the hooks C with the draw-bar havin g acentrallyperforated tongue, a, and bolt c, the said tongue beingarranged between the hooks to brace the bolt, and above the bottom ofthe draw-bar to permit the insertion of the link beneath, as shown anddescribed.

3. The draw-head having sides b. tongue a, and holes beneath thehook-chambers, inclosed by a continuous front edge, as shown andde-`scribed.

4. The hooks C, extended'rearwardly from their fulcrum, and combinedwith the bolt c, and the draw-head having a continuous front edge togive strength to saine, and to form a 'rest for hook when raised orthrown down, as

7. The combination, with the coupling device, of the rock-shaft D,extending from side to side of car, and provided with cranks andweights. adapted to exert a constant holding effect upon said couplingdevice, substantially as described.

8. The vertical shaft E and horizontal shaft D, connected by amiter-gear, the loose sleeve g, encompassing the horizontal shaft,andthe hooks C, connected with said sleeve, all coinbined and arrangedas shown and described.

9. The hooks having recesses lupon their sides, in combination with thedraw-bar formed with corresponding projections upon their side walls, asand for the purpose described.

WILLIAM HENRY MAPLE.

Witnesses:

R. H. IoLLoK, G. H. RAGSDALE;

